> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://runemine.gitbook.io/runemine/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://runemine.gitbook.io/runemine/runes/runestones.md).

# Runestones

Runestones are protocol messages stored in Bitcoin transaction outputs

A Bitcoin UTXO transaction may constrain 1 runestone per transaction. Each Runestone may hold any number of Runes and Runes balances

> A Runestone output's script pubkey begins with an `OP_RETURN`, followed by `OP_13`, followed by zero or more data pushes. These data pushes are concatenated and decoded into a sequence of 128-bit integers, and finally parsed into a runestone.\
> \
> [*https://docs.ordinals.com/runes.html*](https://docs.ordinals.com/runes.html)

Runestones create and manage Runes by Etching, Minting and Transferring